The Workplace Equipment Grant provides financial assistance of up to €12,000 to help people with disabilities acquire assistive equipment or technology necessary for their job duties. This applies to both employees and self-employed individuals working in a traditional workplace or remotely.

Eligibility:

• Disability or Health Condition: Must have a disability or health condition that necessitates assistive equipment or technology for effective job performance.
• General Eligibility: Meet the general eligibility criteria for the Work and Access program.
• Workplace Needs Assessment: This may be required in certain cases, especially for high-cost equipment.

Eligible Uses:

• Assistive Equipment or Technology: Covers the cost of tools that aid in job tasks, such as:
  • Specialised furniture
  • Alternative keyboards
  • Screen magnifiers
  • Induction loop systems
  • Amplifiers for telephones
  • Sip and puff systems
  • Real-time captioning systems
  • Screen-reading, dictation, or voice recognition software
  • License renewals for assistive software
• Training: Can be used for training on how to use the acquired equipment.

Important Notes:

• Ensure compatibility between assistive technology and workplace devices or systems before purchasing.
• The grant cannot be used for equipment required by law, general business setup costs, or job-specific equipment typically provided by employers.

Grant Amount:

The maximum grant amount is €12,000.

Workplace Adaptation Grant:

For adaptations to equipment, consider applying for the Workplace Adaptation Grant, another support under the Work and Access scheme.

How to apply

The Department of Social Protection is developing an online application process, which will be available soon.

To apply for any of the supports available through the Work and Access Programme, follow these steps:

Step 1: Complete the application form

• Request the WA1 form from your local Intreo Office or download it from gov.ie.
• If you are unsure about the support needed, you only complete the relevant section on the WA1 Form.
• Provide quotes to support your application (see Quotes in Appendix 6 of the Operational Guidelines).

Step 2: Eligibility check

• Send your completed WA1 Form by post to Work and Access Section, Central Team, Finglas Intreo Centre, PO Box 13736, Freepost FDN7696, Dublin 11
• The Work and Access Section will check your eligibility

Step 3: Assessment and approval

• An officer will contact you directly to discuss your application.
• If eligible, you will be told about the next steps and any additional sections of the application form to complete.
• Approval for eligibility does not guarantee funding.
• Final approval will be made after you meet specific requirements set by Department officers

Appeals:

You cannot formally appeal a decision, but you can request a review by another DSP officer within 21 days of the decision. You must explain why you believe the decision was wrong and provide supporting evidence.